The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-12


had affected her.
In reply Sir Henry said, dryly, that he had
thought she did not look quito herself on that
day. whereat she flashed one OF those quick
plances OF hers at him, which, II no had the
feelings Of q man, must have gone through
him like q knife, and the subject dropped en-
tirely. Indeed, after supper was over Nylep-
tina condescended to put us through an ex-
animation to sec what we had learned, and to
express herself well satisfied with the results.
Indeed, she proceeded to give us, especially
Sir Henry, a lesson OH her own account, and
very interesting we found it,
And all tho while that we talked, or rather
tried to talk, and laughed, Sorais would sit
there in her carven ivory chair, and look at
us and read us all like book, only from time
TO time saying few words, and smiling that
quick ominous smile of hers which was more
like a flash Of summer lightning ON dark
cloud than anything else. And as near to
her as he dared would sit Good, worshiping
through his eye glass, for he really was get
ting seriously devoted to this somber beauty,
of whom speaking personally, felt terribly
afraid. | watched her keenly, and soon l
found out that for all her apparent impassi-
bility she was at heart bitterly jealous OF
Nyleptha. Another thing found out, and
the discovery filled me with dismay; and that
was, that she also was growing devoted to
Sir Henry Curtis. or course could not be
sure; it is not easy to read so cold and
naughty a woman, but noticed one or two
little things and, as elephant hunters know,
dried grass shows which way the wind has
set.
iAnd so another three months passed over
us, by which time we had oil attained to a
very considerable mastery Of the Zu-Vendi
language, which is an easy one to learn. And
as the mo went on we became great favor
ties ylth q % people, and even with the cour-
tier. gaining an enormous reputation for
rlegernss3, because, as think have said, Sir
Henry ,as able to show them how to make
l,ias, which was a national want; and also,
hy thq help Of twenty year almanac
'hsg we had with us, to predict vari-
W, heavenly combinations which were
quite rpsuspected by the native as
tronoheIS Wa even succeeded in de-
monstrathg the principle of the steam engine
to gatheting Of the learned men, who were
filled with amazement; and several other
things of The same sort we did. And so it
came about that the people made up their
minds tha) we must on no account be allowed
to go out bf the country (Which indeed was an
apparent tmpossbility even if we had wished
it,, and vi were advanced TO great honor and
made Off ers of the body guards OF the sister
queens, while permanent quarters were u.s.
signed to Us in the palace, and our opinion
was asked uIpn questions Of national policy.
But blue Al the sky seemed, there was q
cloud, and al big one, on the horizon. We
had, indeed, lheartl no more of those con-
founded hpIppotami; but it is not on that
account to be imposed that our sacrilege was
forgotten, or &he enmity of the great and
| powerful preAthood headed by Agon up
peased On thb contrary, it was burning the
moro fiercely because it was necessarily sup
pressed, and what had perhaps begun in
bigotry was ending in dov fright direct hatred
born Of jealousy. Hitherto the priests had
been the wise man of the land, and were
on this account, ar veil as from super
stitious c'usos looked on with peculiar ven
Grafton. But our arrival VIII our outland-
ish wisdom and our strange invaNtions and
hints Of I'll imagined thing dealt serious
blow to this. ote of affairs, and, among the
educated zu-N cndi, wsl far .oward destroy
ing tho priest prestige. A still worse
affront to them, however, was the favor with
which we were re, arded, and the trust that
was reposed in us. All these things tended
to make us excessively obnoxious TO the great
sacerdotal clan, the most powerful because
! the most united faction in the kingdom.
I Another source Of imminent danger to US
| was the rising envy Of some of the great
lords, headed by Nasta, whose antagonism to
us had at best been but thinly yelled, and
| which now threatened to break out into open
| flame. Nasta had for some years been a
candidate for Nylepthas hand in marriage;
| and when we appeared OH the scene, fancy,
| from all / could gather, that though there
were still many obstacles in his path, success
was by no means out Of his reach. But now
all this had changed; o., W Nyleptha smiled
| no more in his dire ton 1u he was not slow
| TO guess the cause Inl.ra.sJ and alarmed,
| be turned his attention 60 Sorag only to find
that he nit ht rs well us 20 WOO . mountain
side We a hitter 1e % two .oout his
! frkleness tTst door was closed or. him for
ever. So Ma, 1ethought him of the $4,000
| Wild swordsmeL Who would Jour down at his
bidding through the .orthern mountain
passes, and no doa owed TO adorn the
gates of Milosis with our heads
| But first he determined, as we learned, to
make one moro attempt, and to demand the
hand of Nyleptha in the open court after the
formal annual ceremony Of the signing of the
laws that had been proclaimed by the queens
during the year.
of this astounding fact Nyleptha heard
with mulatsd nonchalance, and with little
trn ing Il he voice herself Informed us Of
C as W. ut at supper on the night preceding
thegr6it ceresapny Of the law signing
Sir Henry lit his lip, and, do what he could
/ e. pr yent il plainly showed his agitation.
"Aua What answer will the queen be
pleased % give to the great lordp asked 1, in
a. Jesting manner.
ANSWER, Macumazahnn for we had elected